North Korea has resumed a large construction project at the foot of a notorious unopened bridge to China, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, in the latest sign that the two countries are preparing to boost trade volumes.

Planet Labs imagery shows that new excavation work on the DPRK side of the New Yalu River Bridge, connecting Sinuiju to China’s Dandong, started between Feb. 18 and 19. Blue-roofed structures likely related to long-term construction plans on site also appeared by March 3.

The project, located directly at the foot of the bridge, actually started in Feb. 2020 but stalled by August of that year after digging work took place across around 111 acres (45 hectares) of land.

The location suggests the project could be a large customs complex to complement one China built on its side of the bridge in recent years.

But given the large size of the excavated area, the new construction could also be related in part to a Chinese company’s 2018 plan to build and operate an economic park in Sinuiju, whose location has not been confirmed.

The company suggested at the time that the Sinuiju “Heyuan” International Logistics and Trade City (SILTC) will be located close to a border connection point, saying it will have “its own customs and border inspection, where transit goods can directly enter … avoiding the congestion of Dandong-Sinuiju Port … and greatly improving cargo flow.”

Wang Ruoming, one of the lead project coordinators based in China, reposted a computer rendering of the economic park on his Douyin social media page in January while saying “2025 is destined to be a year of good fortune,” implying the project’s revival.

Whether the new construction produces a border customs complex, an economic park or both, the resumption of work near the New Yalu River Bridge suggests China and North Korea are getting closer to boosting trade ties after the pandemic disrupted their plans. 

It comes as the two sides have kept up appearances and increased trade and business exchanges since North Korea loosened its border closure in 2023, but as questions remain over potential fissures in relations as Pyongyang prioritizes stronger ties with Moscow. Notably, Chinese tourism to the DPRK has not resumed, while Russian tourism has.

China finished constructing the US$350 million bridge in 2014, but it ended in an open field with no effort made by North Korea to build a connecting highway until Sept. 2019.

Work on the highway appeared largely complete by late 2020 despite North Korea completely shutting its borders, but satellite imagery shows the road has frequently been used by local farmers to dry crops in recent years as the bridge has remained unopened.

Bilateral trade has rebounded in the last couple of years, with a narrow road and rail bridge connecting the downtown areas of Sinuiju and Dandong serving as the busiest such border port between the countries.

The New Yalu River Bridge features a four-lane road, while China’s sprawling new customs port appears ready to handle dozens of cargo trucks at a time. 

Edited by Bryan Betts